Name:
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- Notropis, from the Greek, "back keel"
- volucellus, from the Latin, "swift"
- Common name
- Other common names include:
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Taxonomy:
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- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata, animals with a spinal chord
- Subphylum Vertebrata, animals with a backbone
- Superclass Osteichthyes, bony fishes
- Class Actinopterygii, ray-finned and spiny rayed fishes
- Subclass Neopterygii
- Infraclass Teleostei
- Superorder Ostariophysi
- Order Cypriniformes, minnows and suckers
- Family Cyprinidae, carps and minnows
- Genus Notropis, eastern shiners
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Description:
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- A small, silvery minnow of open waters.
- Length 3"
- Weight
- Coloration
- back is straw colored
- silvery sides
- whitish belly
- scales on back have a light pigment edge giving the fish a cross-hatched
appearance
- dark pigment around the vent and base of the anal fin, which is absent
or faint in the bigmouth and sand shiners.
- lateral band varies from distinct to faint among fish from different populations.
- Body
- slender and slightly compressed laterally
- dorsal and anal fins of 8 rays and rounded in shape
- pectoral fins of 12-15 rays
- pelvic fins of 9 rays
- complete, elevated lateral line of 33-38 scales with a spot above and below
each pore.
- poorly developed or absent mid-dorsal stripe
- Head
- mouth small, sub-terminal
- no barbel present
- hooked pharyngeal teeth on slender arches, in a 4-4 pattern.
- Lifespan
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Identification:
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Distribution:
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- Central North America, from the St. Lawrence to the Red River of the North
and south to the gulf coast, with disjunct populations in Virginia and
North Carolina.
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Habitat:
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- Lakes and the quieter parts of streams, with moderate to swift current
over sand bars or spoil banks, often around vegetation.
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Food:
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- Feeds at mid-depth on insect larvae, terrestrial insects, zooplankton,
algae and other plant debris; especially favors midge adults and larvae.
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History:
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Uses:
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Reproduction:
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- Spawns late May through June, in aquatic vegetation with no nesting or
parental care. Possibly spawns at night in moderately deep water.
- Spawning adults generally 1 and 2 year olds and few 3-year-olds.
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Comments:
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Links:
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Last updated on 31 October 1999
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